- Legacy Backlog Shrinks as MAIB Streamlines Investigations.
- Report Output Doubles; Investigation Time Improving.
- 85% of Safety Recommendations Accepted in 2024.
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has just released its annual report for 2024, and it’s packed with some interesting insights. They reported receiving a total of 1,515 reports concerning marine casualties and incidents involving both UK vessels and foreign vessels operating in UK coastal waters, reports Safety4Sea.
Progress in Tackling the Investigation Backlog
At the start of 2024, MAIB was dealing with 41 ongoing investigations, a leftover backlog that was hindering their ability to wrap things up quickly. Captain Andrew Moll, OBE, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, mentioned that the branch has shifted to a more selective strategy for discretionary investigations. They’re now encouraging foreign administrations to take the lead on investigations involving their own flagged vessels.
This new approach, combined with a rise in published reports—20 in 2024 compared to just 10 in 2023—has made a noticeable dent in the backlog. MAIB is aiming to publish another 20 reports in 2025, and they’re seeing improvements in the average time it takes to complete investigations.
Steady Acceptance of Recommendations, but Implementation Delays Continue
In 2024, MAIB’s recommendations had an acceptance rate of 85%. While this is a bit lower than the previous year, it still falls within acceptable limits. However, there are ongoing worries about whether recipients are committing to clear timelines for implementing these recommendations.
Collisions and Groundings Highlight Need for Rethinking Watchkeeping
Even with advancements in procedures, we’re still seeing significant collisions and groundings among merchant vessels. Incidents like the tragic Scot Carrier–Karin Høj collision, along with the Scot Explorer–Happy Falcon, Verity–Polesie, and Solong–Stena Immaculate collisions, really bring to light some serious concerns about bridge watchkeeping.
Captain Moll emphasised the urgent need to radically rethink the role of human watchkeepers, noting that when humans are under-stimulated, they don’t perform well as mere passive monitors. Moreover, a joint MAIB/DMAIB ECDIS study found that operators frequently overlook automated safety features that are meant to alert them to hazards.
Fishing Vessel Flooding Raises Alarm on Water Ingress Vulnerability
In 2024, three investigations and one preliminary assessment were launched regarding UK fishing vessel incidents involving flooding or foundering. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but these events highlight a concerning vulnerability within the fleet.
Many UK fishing vessels lack watertight subdivisions, making them particularly prone to flooding. The report stresses the critical need for early alarm systems and regular practice of emergency abandonment procedures to protect lives.
Occupational Accidents Remain a Persistent Safety Challenge
In 2024, two crew members tragically lost their lives in marine accidents related to fishing vessels, the same number as in 2020, which marks the lowest fatality count in a decade. However, both incidents occurred on well-crewed vessels and were linked to unsafe work systems rather than a shortage of manpower.
The MAIB intends to tackle this issue in future reports by shifting focus from merely meeting compliance with risk assessments to fostering a proactive safety and risk management culture onboard vessels.
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Source: Safety4Sea
